What is the code on the movement? it's really hard to see in the photo. Is it A9, 48 or does it start with an L? I copied the photo and enlarged it;and it looks like L5, but that might be a pixel issue or my eyes.....

Agreed, 1948. A 2 year difference between movement and case doesn't bother me as far as authenticity goes. If the movement was 2 years newer, it would indicate a possible movement swap. Watch dated by case is therefore still a 1950. I really like the white gold watches of this era; they seem to be a lot less common.

I just revisited your photos, numerous ads and known examples of this watch in the database, and it appears the hands have been replaced on your watch. Yours does, however, seem to be the first white example with white face uploaded to Mybulova. Hand variance could be related to the color difference as well. Hard to say. I don't know if that will move this to the "non-conforming" category or not.

That is entirely possible. HE should have stick hands. In the event of repair, the easiest thing would have been to simply swap the movt with hands and dial, since they share the same movt calibre. A Bulova service centre would not have done this(at the time), it likely happened many years later.